So I’m back from Miami! I had a great time with my friend, Ashley. We barely slept, but we enjoyed ourselves all too much. It was my first time there and definitely won’t be my last. From the beach and the clubs, to the food and the shopping, Miami has it all. I loved the atmosphere and the energy of South Beach. The following picture was taken my second night there before we went out.

I’m wearing a BCBG Max Azria bandage skirt paired with a silk top from Forever 21, a BCBG max Azria belt and shoes by Jessica Simpson (my faves). I love this look because of the black and white and the huge pop of neon-esque pink. The blousy top paired with a slim mini is a look I go with often for it compliments my hips and small top. I’m all about defining the waistline so the belt does that for me. I also kept it light on the accessories.
My last night there I wore a little black dress. Chic and simple I called it. Form-fitting and short, a great combination for me! I got it from BCBG Max Azria and I believe it’s actually a top, but being only 5 feet tall it worked perfectly as a mini dress. Again, very minimal jewelry. I wanted my dress to be the stand-out piece. The sandals I bought from ALDO a couple years back but remain to be a big part of my warm weather wardrobe.

This may be my absolute favorite collection I’ve seen thus far. Tracy Reese’s Spring ’10 collection is something I could see myself in. The color story of tangerine orange, cerulean blue and lemon yellow, with hints of black go great together. Romney Leader writes on Style.com that Reese really wanted to make this new collection more versatile. She didn’t want to make it about dresses only, but separates that you can wear in different ways with other pieces. Mission accomplished! While I still want the dresses, I want everything else too! If I had to narrow down my favorite it would be look 1 and 5. Then looks 2 and 4. Definitely hard decisions. Oh, and those shoes!!

So expect to see girly but sporty clothing from her this coming spring.

Check out her other looks here:
www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2010RTW-TREESE

Of course I had to post pieces from the new and upcoming BCBG Max Azria Runway collection. There was an abundance of dresses. Minis, mids and maxis in coral, black, white, lime, purple, blue or a variety of all those colors were adorable. A lot of draping was used, as well as, bandaging. They also incorporated a new spin on the T-shirt dress. Sheer fabrics, ruched silk, and draped jersey used in unconventional ways made the collection fresh.

It’s a new year and a new decade. There’s no better time to sport a new look to the office than now. Remember Laurie? Here she is in ways we didn’t show before. We dressed her in BCBG Max Azria for these looks, all work-appropriate!

The first look consists of a dress, a cardigan and a waist belt. The cardigan could also be called a wrap since it’s one of those that hangs a lot lower in the front. It can also be worn a few different ways: tied loosely in the front, belted, tossed over the shoulder(s) or simply just left open. The belt was added to accentuate her waist. Without it she would have no shape and the look could appear a little sloppy.

The second look is anything but your average suit. The blazer hangs a bit lower in the front than in the back and comes together at one button. The pants are looser at the top and are more slimming as you go down the leg. Giving the appearance of a skinny pant without being too tight. Perfect for a day at the office. This suit would also look great with a blouse.

The third look brings together a ruffled blouse and a highwaisted pencil skirt. Again, the black band at the top of the skirt accentuates her waist. The simple silhouette of the skirt plays down the fullness of the top so they balance out well. A cropped black cardigan would also be great with this outfit.

While flats could be great and more comfortable for the office, heels make the legs look longer and slimmer. Laurie is wearing pumps by Jessica Simpson and they work perfectly with each of her outfits.

With less than a week before Christmas the East Coast is getting hit by a major winter storm. With over a foot of snow on the ground (and it continues to fall), mostly everything has been closed. Yes, even shopping malls. As the last shopping weekend before Christmas it seems that everything has come to a standstill. Planes have been grounded so all those traveling are stuck in crowded airports. So grateful to be in the safety of my own home. Now, to occupy myself with movies, lots of hot chocolate, unhealthy food and maybe some sledding later?